​During an interview of Noam Chomsky by Ralph Nader for Truth Dig, Chomsky reported that movements take time to gain momentum, suggesting that we need to be patient but active. He noted the Vietnam War resistance movement that took from 1962- 68 to gain enough steam to be effective.

However, it has been 15 years since 9/11 and eight since the crash of the economy and five since Occupy. These two shocks of aggression bringing fear and the final act of the coup d’état by the finance seem to have most Americans traumatized.

The mirror test to detect life in the politically minded shows lots of steam leaking from the pressure cooker valve called social media. Little of the steam that the mirror needs to indicate life in a movement is from the body politic in the street. Yet we have indigenous people who have been marginalized resisting alone. Should we be ashamed? Do they want our help physically there? Will a call to the Obama White House change anything?

The Sioux at Standing Rock is merely one of many groups needing help with resistance. Is it a beginning, a foothold?